Now They’re on the Level as Contenders in NL West

After opening the season on shaky ground, the Dodgers will be on equal footing with the San Francisco Giants when they begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies tonight at Coors Field.

In 32 days, the Dodgers have erased an 8 1/2-game deficit to the Giants and are tied with them atop the National League West at 30-20. The Dodgers were 9-13 after a 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on April 24 but have gone 21-7 since and are riding a 10-game win streak entering the Colorado series.

“The fun thing is we’ve scored 40 runs in the 10 wins, which shows how a really good pitching staff can eliminate the need for a high-scoring offense,” Dodger General Manager Dan Evans said. “A lot of people have emphasized how our offense is lacking. We’re never going to be an explosive offensive club, but we don’t need to be. We just need to score enough runs for our pitchers.”

The Dodgers rank last in the National League with 187 runs. Third baseman Adrian Beltre, who is hitting .186 and has driven in only three runs this month, still hasn’t snapped out of a season-long funk. Right fielder Shawn Green, who has six home runs and 26 runs batted in, is still searching for a consistent power stroke. Left fielder Brian Jordan hasn’t homered since April 3.

But the Dodger pitching staff has a major league-best 2.68 earned-run average, and the rotation of Kevin Brown, Hideo Nomo, Odalis Perez, Darren Dreifort and Kazuhisa Ishii has combined for 38 quality starts in 50 games.

“Right now, the starters are on a roll,” said first baseman Fred McGriff, who has five homers and 15 RBIs in his last 14 games. “They’re getting more competitive with each other, trying to outdo each other.

“If they keep us in the game, give us a chance to get a big hit, that’s all you can ask for.”

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There are no land mines around Dodger reliever Andy Ashby’s locker. It only seems that way. Approached before Sunday’s game, Ashby greeted a reporter with what has become a familiar refrain for him in recent weeks: “I’ve got nothing to say. I don’t even want to talk about it.”

What Ashby won’t discuss is a demotion from the rotation to the bullpen that has essentially mothballed the veteran with the $8-million contract.

A long reliever on a team that hasn’t really needed one, Ashby has pitched in only six games this season, none since May 10.

As the cobwebs mount, so has Ashby’s frustration, prompting Manager Jim Tracy to have several discussions with him in an effort to soothe the right-hander.

“It’s a tough situation, and I don’t expect him to be happy about it, but I’m pleased to see he’s handled it like a professional,” Tracy said. “It’s no one’s fault that our starting pitchers are throwing six, seven, eight innings every time out. That’s why he’s gotten a limited amount of work.”

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Outfielder Shane Victorino, whom the San Diego Padres plucked from the Dodgers last winter in the Rule 5 draft, was designated for assignment. If Victorino clears waivers today, the Dodgers are expected to pay the Padres $25,000 to get him back and would assign him to a minor league team.... Perhaps Coors Field will provide a boost to the Dodger offense -- they are 33-25 and have averaged 7.2 runs a game in the Rockies’ stadium.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Colorado Rockies, three games.

Site -- Coors Field, Denver.

Tonight -- 6 p.m.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2 all three games.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 30-20, Rockies 24-27.

Record vs. Rockies -- 3-0.

Tonight, 6 -- Kazuhisa Ishii (4-1, 2.79 ERA) vs. Aaron Cook (1-4, 5.33 ERA)

Wednesday, 6 -- Odalis Perez (4-2, 3.23) vs. Shawn Chacon (6-2, 3.79).

Thursday, noon -- Darren Dreifort (4-3, 3.30) vs. Scott Elarton (0-1, 4.50).